Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Tammy Duckworth engaged in a heated exchange during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday. The tension centered on the Trump administration’s recent military operations in Venezuela and the use of wartime legal authorities. Duckworth questioned whether the administration had overstepped its bounds by invoking laws historically reserved for major global conflicts.
“Mr. Secretary, are we currently at war with Venezuela?” Duckworth asked, pressing for a clear definition of the conflict. Rubio responded that while the U.S. is not in a formal state of war, it is actively confronting “terrorist and criminal organizations” like Tren de Aragua (TdA). He argued these groups are waging “irregular warfare” against the U.S. through narcoterrorism and violent crime.
Duckworth specifically challenged the President’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. She noted the law was last used during World War II to intern thousands of innocent civilians. Rubio defended the move, stating the act is being used to speed up the deportation of violent gang members. He dismissed claims of “torture,” insisting that the administration is simply arresting and removing documented threats.
The hearing follows the high-profile capture of former dictator Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this month. While Maduro is now facing narco-terrorism charges in New York, Duckworth expressed concern that the regime remains intact. She warned that the administration’s “fuzzy messaging” could lead to another “forever war” in the Western Hemisphere.
Rubio clarified that the U.S. does not intend to maintain a long-term military presence in Venezuela. However, he reasserted the President’s right to eliminate imminent threats, such as potential Iranian drone deployments. “The President never rules out his options… to protect the national interest,” Rubio told the committee.
The debate also touched on the administration’s recent $500 million nationwide audit of Venezuelan oil revenues. Rubio framed the current U.S. role as one of stabilization and transition toward democratic elections. Meanwhile, Duckworth and other critics argue that the lack of congressional consultation undermines American democracy.
As the standoff continues, the administration maintains its “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil tankers. Rubio insisted this is a necessary tool to cripple the remaining regime’s financial support. For now, the “glimmer of hope” in Venezuela remains shadowed by intense partisan debate in Washington.